The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-12
SHERIFF MATSON.

Why the Execution Was Delayed Until Noon
He Does Not Fear Prosecution.
CHICAGO, Nov. 11-Sherff Matson sat in his
private Office this evening. very pale, and the
dark rings beneath the eyes showed that no
was worn out with thinking, excitement and hard
work. He leaned back in his easy chair and
rested his feet in another seat IN front Of him
he surveyed a Autograph of twenty-eight
Sioux Indians being executed at one time.
which occurred in 1862.
-Four at onca is anou gh," he remarked, as ne
looked at the picture.
"You look tired" remarked the reporter.
'Well. do not deceive my looks then," he re-
Piled II have slept but little this week, and
not at all last night"
care you satisfied with the result of the
duty imposed upon your
Eyes; think tho execution passed off as well
as unpleasant thing like that could. 1t is
always a sad job for an official to perform, but
with a healthy moral public sentiment behind
him, the officer feels strong in doing his duty.
j had no fears that there would be trouble.
of Chief Ebsrsold and Captain Setback this
morning being admirable, and too much credit
cannot be given them and their efficient force.
/ did all l could to have the thing carried out
deceDty and in order, and think we succeeded
fairly we'll There was not a crowd IN the jail,
and very few curiosity-seekers. The jury was
first-cass physicians who were present there
were only the representatives of the press"
do you take any significant meaning from
the last words of the doomed men!
mo, do not. replied the sheriff. He sat
still a minute, thfnkine of the broken sentence
of Parsons the drop fell, and sthen said:
with the strainsd public sentiment ! did not
deem il expedient have the men make long
speeches at that time. OF course, 1t is custom
ary and it is believed that man can talk as
much as he pleases the scaffold. but there is
no law authorizing it, and deemed it best not
to allow it. 1t seemed to me that it would only
lead to excitement There had been no under
standing that they would be allowed to talk at
the scaffold, but the contrary. we were 60
ing to the gallows, was told by Dr. Bolton they
did not want to. as they had written great
..Do you apprehend that there will be any
trouble at the funerai!
mo, do not: think the better Judgment Of
the friends of the unfortunate men will prevail.
and that nothing will be done to cause q repeti-
ton of to-days work"
"Wby was the death execution delayed from
10 to IL ociecks'
''Merely to give the men all the chance to es-
cape their doom that there was. 1t was my in
tention yesterday to have the work over prompt
ly at 10 o'clock but when I heard that Captain
Black was at Springfield, pleading with the
Governor, decided TO hold off and give them
the benefit of their counsefs work. l did not
care to have it said that we had rushed them to
eternity when there Was q chance of their being
saved. So / waited. We were ready at 10. but
a short time before that telegram came that
captain BLACK Was interesting Win tn0 0OFern
or. At l0:15 n second dispatch came that Captain
Black had left the executives presence, and that
the latter had declared it his irrevocaple inten-
ton not to interfere further with the verdict Of
the courts. 1 might have hanged them then,
but waited until the usual time here for carry
ing out the execution"
The sheriff does not seem to fear that he
will be prosecuted for murder by attor-
neys Black and Solomon. per notice yester-
day but expressed himself that it very
foolish notion. He believes Mrs. Parsons should
ha tied
around the widow ''of a martyr to carry
out the work of organizing the Anarchists.